Confederate Icons: History, Memory, and the Future of Our Past
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia
(Saturday, July 28, 2018, 10am-5pm)
The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation's 2018 Valley Conference will focus on the history of Confederate icons such as monuments and the battle flag, and how their use, meaning, and cultural acceptance have changed over the years. The conference will be held Saturday, July 28, 2018, at the Festival Student and Conference Center at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, and will features speakers Christy S. Coleman, John M. Coski, Caroline E. Janney, James I. "Bud" Robertson, Jr., and Keven M. Walker.
The cost to attend is $30, $27 for SVBF members; lunch at the JMU Cafeteria is included. Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. For more information call, 540-740-4545. To register call 540-740-4545 or click the link below.
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Where in the Valley is Shenandoah Shelbie?
(Program begins July 2)
A new program from the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation starring "Shenandoah Shelbie." Follow Shelbie's adventures and solve clues to figure out where Shelbie has traveled. Get your picture taken at the site ("Shelbie Snapshots") to earn rewards. Sign up for more information and "Shelbie E-Alerts" with weekly clues by emailing info@svbf.net or calling 540-740-4545.
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Battle of Williamsport and Battle of Falling Waters 155th Anniversary Remembrance
Springfield Barn, Williamsport, Maryland
(Friday, July 6, 6pm)
The Springfield Barn, 12 Springfield Lane, Williamsport, Md., will be the site of a free event commemorating the 155th anniversary of the July 6, 1863 Battle of Williamsport and the July 14, 1863 Battle of Falling Waters, Md. Speakers include Ted Alexander, George Franks III, and Steve French. There will also be music, relics from the battles, book sales, period re-enactors, and more. Doors open at 6. For more info, contact Steve French at sfrench52@yahoo.com.
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Civil War Day Camp
Virginia Museum of the Civil War, New Market
(July 9-13)
Camp for ages 7-12. Activities include 19th-century crafts, Infantry drill, Guided battlefield tour, and Farm chores and games. Period-style refreshments and mid-morning snack provided. $20 per day. Sign up for all five days and save $20. Limited to 30 campers per session. Complement Virginia Standards of Learning and several other states. Registered campers may purchase the optional soldier uniform kit at a discounted price of $40. To register or for more information, click here.
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Summer Story Time: Reading with a Ranger
Belle Grove Plantation, Middletown
(Wednesday, July 11, 2018, 10am)
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History at Sunset: Remnants of the Stonewall Brigade at Cedar Creek
Visitor Contact Station, Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park, Middletown
(Friday, July 13, 2018, 7pm)
By the fall of 1864, the famous "Stonewall" Brigade was a shell of its former self, as the Overland Campaign had taken a massive toll on the brigade. Find out how this famous unit performed at the Battle of Cedar Creek. Meet Park Ranger James Horn at the National Park Service Visitor Contact Station (7712 Main Street, Middletown, Virginia). For more information call (540) 869-3051.
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"A More Sharp & Obstinate Affair": 154th Anniversary of the Battle of Cool Spring
Cool Spring Battlefield (east of Berryville)
(Saturday, July 14, 2018, 10am-4pm)
Shenandoah University's McCormick Civil War Institute will commemorate the 154th anniversary of the Battle of Cool Spring at the University's River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield (1400 Parker Lane, Bluemont, VA). There will be a series of presentations, living history, Civil War era music and walking tour of Battle of Cool Spring with Prof. Jonathan A. Noyalas. This event is free and open to the public. No pre-registration is required. For additional information or questions contact Prof. Noyalas at jnoyalas01@su.edu or 540-665-4501. Follow the McCormick Civil War Institute on Facebook for additional details and updates.
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Archeology at Belle Grove
Belle Grove Plantation, Middletown
(July 14, 17, and 25, 2018, 10am-4pm)
Visitors are invited to visit the archaeological excavation underway of a 1.5 acre site where slave quarters were located from about 1800-1850. Archaeologist Matthew Greer will give a tour and talk on Tuesday, July 17 (4:00 pm) and Wednesday, July 25 (11:00 a.m.). Free. For more information call: (540) 869-2068. Follow the McCormick Civil War Institute on Facebook for additional details and updates. 336 Belle Grove Road. For more information, call 540-869-2028.
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Fort Collier, Winchester, Virginia
(Friday, July 20, 2018, 10am)
Come say hello and get acquainted with fellow preservationists and history enthusiasts in a comfortable forum. Once a month, participants are invited to meet at Fort Collier and share your interests with the others. Do you have ancestors that fought in the war? Artifacts passed down through the family? Favorite battlefields? You may discover someone connected to you. Meetings begin at 10am under the trees of Fort Collier, or inside the house if weather is inclement. Bring a folding chair and your favorite beverage. The next meeting will be held on Friday, July 20, 2018. Future meetings are scheduled for August 17 and September 14. 922 Martinsburg Pike, Winchester, Virginia. To join the group, click
here. For more information, contact Kirsten Kauling at kkauling@svbf.net or 540-740-4545.
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Battle of Wapping Heights - 155th Anniversary Program and Tour
Front Royal, Virginia
(Saturday, July 21, 2018, 10am)
155th anniversary program and tour on the Battle of Wapping Heights led by Matt Wending. (Fought on July 23, 1863, the action is also known as the Battle of Manassas Gap.) The event will begin with a short talk at the Warren Heritage Society (101 Chester Street, Front Royal) followed by a car caravan tour of battlefield sites. Sponsored by the Warren Heritage Society, the Warren Rifles Confederate Museum, and the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. Free but pre-registration is required. To register, click
here or call 540-740-4545. For more information, contact Matt Wendling at 540-636-3354.
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Second Kernstown Anniversary Programs
Kernstown Battlefield on the Pritchard-Grim Farm, Winchester
(July 21-22, 2018)
(July 24, 2018)
On July 21 and 22, the Kernstown Battlefield Association will commemorate the 154th anniversary of the Second Battle of Kernstown (fought July 24, 1864) with a weekend full of special events. In addition to Battlefield, 1854 Pritchard House, Museum and Artillery Annex tours, the KBA will present special events. The Gift Shop will be open.
In addition, on July 24, the 154th anniversary of the battle, the Kernstown Battlefield will be open from 10 am to 4 pm.
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Col. Shipp's Leadership Institute
Virginia Museum of the Civil War, New Market
(July 23-27)
Camp for ages 13-17. Activities include Infantry drill using authentic replica firearms and equipment (non-firing), Team building exercises, History hikes each day, Civil War food ways, Games, Battlefield Tours, and VMI Cadet led programs. $25 per day. Sign up for all five days and save $25.00. Sign up early as space is limited. Register by July 7 and avoid the waiting list. Includes all supplies. Snacks are provided. To register or for more information, click here.
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Fridays at the Front - "Stirring times": Harrisonburg During the Civil War
Harrisonburg, Virginia
(Friday, July 27, 2018, 10am)
Presented by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. Tour of sites related to wartime events in Harrisonburg, including Jackson's Valley Campaign, Hunter's march to Piedmont, partisan warfare, Sheridan's 1864 Shenandoah Campaign, the Burning, civilian life, and post-war commemoration and conciliation. Tour led by Keven Walker, SVBF CEO. The tour is free, but pre-registration is required. To register, or for more information, click here or call 540-740-4545.
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History at Sunset: A Diamond in the Rough: The Forgotten Story of the Bowman-Hite Farmstead
Meet at Belle Grove Plantation, Middletown
(Friday, July 27, 2018, 7pm)
Join Ranger Kyle Rothemich as he explores the history of the Bowman-Hite Farmstead, which stands as a unique example of a 19th century Shenandoah Valley agricultural landscape. Learn about the families who called this place home, structures that shaped their experiences and soldiers who marched by during the Battle of Cedar Creek. Meet at Belle Grove (336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown). Visitors will then carpool to the site. For more information call (540) 869-3051.
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Ranger Programs - Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
Middletown
(Click here for July Calendar)
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove in a Box - A Park Overview - The history and settlement of the Valley, the Battle of Cedar Creek and the impact of the Civil War.
Battle of Cedar Creek Tour - A two-hour guided car caravan tour.
War Comes to the Shenandoah Valley - This program examines the many impacts of the war on the Valley.
1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign in a Box - This 30 minute program provides an overview of the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign
Kneading in Silence: A Glimpse Into the Life of Judah the Enslaved Cook - This 30 minute program explores the story of one slave at Belle Grove.
Middletown Civil War Walking Tour -
Learn about the citizens of Middletown and the war's impact on them. 90 minute walking tour.
All programs are free. For details and a complete schedule, click here. For more information, call 540-869-3051.
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2019 National Conference: "Give the Enemy No Rest": The 1864 Shenandoah Campaign
Based in Front Royal, Virginia
(April 10-13, 2019)
Registration Now Open
The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation's 4th Annual National Civil War Conference will focus on Sheridan's 1864 Shenandoah Campaign, the largest and costliest campaign ever fought in the Valley. The conference will include talks, programs, special events, and tours of Third Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek - all featuring the finest historians in the nation.
Guides and speakers will include Gary Ecelbarger, Caroline E. Janney, Robert K. Krick, William Miller, Jonathan A. Noyalas, Scott C. Patchan, Ralph Peters, Nicholas Picerno, and Jeffry Wert.
The cost for the full conference is $425 for SVBF members, $475 for non-members. Guests can also choose one or more individual days with a la carte pricing. For more information, click
here. To register, for the full conference, click
here. For single day registration, click
here.
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155 Years Ago: July 1863 During the Civil War
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Battle of Gettysburg (Pennsylvania). Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee concentrates his full strength against Union Gen. George G. Meade's Army of the Potomac at the crossroads county seat of Gettysburg. On July 1, Confederate forces converge on the town from west and north, driving Union defenders back through the streets to Cemetery Hill. During the night, reinforcements arrive for both sides. On July 2, Lee attempts to envelop the Federals, first striking the Union left flank at the Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, Devil's Den, and the Round Tops with Longstreet's and Hill's divisions, and then attacking the Union right at Culp's and East Cemetery Hills with Ewell's divisions. By evening, the Federals retain Little Round Top and have repulsed most of Ewell's men. During the morning of July 3, the Confederate infantry are driven from their last toe-hold on Culp's Hill. In the afternoon, after a preliminary artillery bombardment, Lee attacks the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. The Pickett-Pettigrew assault (more popularly, Pickett's Charge) momentarily pierces the Union line but is driven back with severe casualties. Stuart's cavalry attempts to gain the Union rear but is repulsed. On July 4, Lee begins withdrawing his army toward Williamsport on the Potomac River. His train of wounded stretches more than fourteen miles.
July 1-2, 1863
First Battle of Cabin Creek (Indian Territory, modern-day Oklahoma). Col. James M. Williams of the First Kansas Colored Infantry leads a Union supply train from Fort Scott, Kansas, to Fort Gibson, Oklahoma (then Indian Territory). As he approaches the crossing of Cabin Creek, he learnsd that Confederate Col. Stand Watie, with about 1,600 to 1,800 men, intends to assault him there. Watie is waiting for about 1,500 reinforcements under the command of Gen. William L. Cabell to join him before attacking the supply train. Cabell, however, is detained due to high water on Grand River. Cabin Creek also has high water, preventing a crossing at first, but when it has receded enough, Williams drives the Confederates off with artillery fire and two cavalry charges. The wagon train continues to Fort Gibson and delivers the supplies, making it possible for the Union forces to maintain their presence in Indian territory and take the offensive that results in a victory at Honey Springs and the fall of Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Fall of Vicksburg (Mississippi). In May and June of 1863, Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's armies had converged on Vicksburg, investing the city and entrapping a Confederate army under Confederate Gen. John Pemberton. On July 4, Vicksburg surrenders after prolonged siege operations. This is the culmination of one of the most brilliant military campaigns of the war. With the loss of Pemberton's army and this vital stronghold on the Mississippi, the Confederacy is effectively split in half. Grant's successes in the West boost his reputation, leading ultimately to his appointment as General-in-Chief of the Union armies.
July 4, 1863
Battle of Helena (Arkansas). Confederate Gen. Theophilus Holmes's troops attack Helena in an attempt to relieve pressure on Vicksburg. Although the Rebels have more troops and do initially capture some of the fortifications, the Union forces repel them. Thus, Helena continues as an important Union enclave in the Trans-Mississippi theater and serves as a base for the expedition that captures Little Rock.
Battle of Williamsport (Maryland). During the night of July 4-5, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's battered army begins its retreat from Gettysburg, moving southwest on the Fairfield Road toward Hagerstown and Williamsport, screened by Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry. The Union infantry follows cautiously the next day, converging on Middletown, Maryland. On July 7, Confederate Gen. John D. Imboden stops Gen. John Buford's Union cavalry from occupying Williamsport and destroying Confederate trains. Union Gen. Judson Kilpatrick's cavalry division drives two Confederate cavalry brigades through Hagerstown before being forced to retire by the arrival of the rest of Stuart's command. Lee's infantry reaches the rain-swollen Potomac River but cannot cross, the pontoon bridge having been destroyed by a cavalry raid. On July 11, Lee entrenches a line, protecting the river crossings at Williamsport and waiting for Meade's army to advance. On July 12, Meade reaches the vicinity and probes the Confederate line. On July 13, skirmishing is heavy along the lines as Meade positions his forces for an attack. In the meantime, the river falls enough to allow the construction of a new bridge, and Lee's army begins crossing the river after dark on the 13th. On the morning of the 14th, Kilpatrick's and Buford's cavalry divisions attack the rearguard division of Confederate Gen. Henry Heth still on the north bank, taking more than 500 prisoners. Confederate Brig. Gen. James Pettigrew is mortally wounded in the fight. On July 16, Union Gen. David McMurtrie Gregg's cavalry approaches Shepherdstown, where Confederate Gen. Fitzhugh Lee's and Gen. J.R. Chambliss's brigades, supported by Col. M.J. Ferguson's, holds the Potomac River fords against the Union infantry. Fitzhugh Lee and Chambliss attack Gregg, who holds out against several attacks and sorties, fighting sporadically until nightfall when he withdraws.
July 8, 1863
Battle of Boonsboro (Maryland). During the Confederate retreat after Gettysburg, the Confederate cavalry, holding the South Mountain passes, fights a rearguard action against elements of the Union 1st and 3rd Cavalry Divisions and infantry. This action is one of a series of cavalry combats fought around Boonsboro, Hagerstown, and Williamsport.
July 9, 1863
Battle of Corydon (Indiana). On July 2, 1863, Confederate Gen. Morgan, with about 2,450 hand-picked cavalrymen, had ridden into Kentucky to disrupt the communications of the Union Army of the Cumberland, which began its operations against Bragg's Army of Tennessee (Tullahoma Campaign) on June 23. Crossing the Cumberland River at Burkesville, Morgan's column advances to the Green River where it is deflected by a Union regiment at Tebb's Bend on July 4. Morgan surprises and captures the garrison at Lebanon, Kentucky, then rides via Springfield, Bardstown, and Garnettsville. On July 8, Morgan crosses the Ohio River at Mauckport, Indiana, despite orders to remain south of the river in Kentucky. Union military officials call out the militia in Indiana and Ohio and work feverishly to organize a defense. On July 9, near Corydon, Indiana, elements of Morgan's force encounter about 400 Home Guards and captured most of them. As Morgan continues eastward to Ohio, destroying bridges, railroads, and government stores, Federal columns converge to prevent Morgan from recrossing into Kentucky.
Port Hudson Surrenders. After hearing of the fall of Vicksburg, the Confederate garrison of Port Hudson, which has been under siege for 48 days, surrenders to Union troops under Gen. Nathaniel Banks, opening the Mississippi River to Union navigation from its source to New Orleans.
July 10-11, 1863
First Battle of Fort Wagner (Charleston, South Carolina). On July 10, Union artillery on Folly Island together with Adm. John Dahlgren's fleet of ironclads opened fire on Confederate defenses of Morris Island in Charleston Harbor. The bombardment provides cover for Union Gen. George C. Strong's brigade, which crosses Light House Inlet and lands by boats on the southern tip of the island. Strong's troops advance, capturing several batteries, to within range of Confederate Fort Wagner. At dawn on July 11, Strong attacks the fort. Soldiers of the 7th Connecticut reached the parapet but, unsupported, are thrown back. Heavy artillery fire from Fort Wagner prevents other troops from joining the attack.
Draft Riots (New York City). On Saturday, July 11, the first names of the new Federal draft had been drawn in New York City, and they appeared in the papers on Sunday, July 12. Seething unrest had long existed in the city over the draft, particularly its provision for substitution and the purchase of exemption. Aggravating the situation were certain politicians who, if not Peace Democrats, were not wholeheartedly in support of the war. On this Monday morning the draft situation comes to a head. As the drawing of lots begin again, a mob consisting of a high percentage of foreign laborers gathers. Soon a full-scale riot develops. The draft headquarters are stormed, residences raided, and business establishments looted. Authorities (including police, firemen, and the Army) are overpowered as crowds tear through the streets spreading destruction and death. Fires break out in various parts of the city, a Negro church and orphan age are burned, and casualties mount. African-Americans become the primary victims, along with Federal officials, of the rampaging mob, now composed mainly of Irish working people. Only the return of troops from Gettysburg, and firm army control, brings it to an end on July 16. The draft has to be postponed until Aug. 19. Figures are uncertain, but one estimate is that a thousand people have been killed and wounded, with property losses placed at $1,500,000.
July 13, 1863
Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee pulls out of his defensive positions north of the Potomac River and, during the night, crosses the river to safety in Virginia. Union Gen. George B. Meade has been planning an assault on June 14, but will awake that morning to find the Confederate entrenchments abandoned.
July 16, 1863
Battle of Grimball's Landing (Charleston, South Carolina). To divert Confederate reinforcements from a renewed Federal attack on Fort Wagner, Gen. Quincy A. Gillmore designs two feints. An amphibious force ascends Stono River to threaten the Charleston & Savannah Railroad bridge. A second force, consisting of Alfred Terry's division, lands on James Island on July 8. Terry demonstrates against the Confederate defenses. On July 16, the Confederates attack Terry's camp at Grimball's Landing. Because of incomplete reconnaissance of the difficult, marshy ground, the disorganized Confederate attack is soon aborted. Their mission accomplished, Federal troops withdraw from the island on July 17.
Honey Springs (Indian Territory, modern-day Oklahoma). Union and Confederate troops had frequently skirmished in the vicinity of Honey Springs Depot. The Union commander in the area, Gen. James G. Blunt, correctly surmised that Confederate forces, mostly Native American troops under the command of Confederate Gen. Douglas H. Cooper, were about to concentrate and would then attack his force at Fort Gibson. He decides to defeat the Confederates at Honey Springs Depot before they are joined by Gen. William Cabell's brigade, advancing from Fort Smith, Arkansas. Blunt begins crossing the swollen Arkansas River on July 15, 1863, and, by midnight on July 16-17, he has a force of 3,000 men, composed of whites, Native Americans, and African Americans, marching toward Honey Springs. Blunt skirmishes with Rebel troops early on the morning of the 17th, and by midafternoon, full-scale fighting ensues. The Confederates have wet powder, causing misfires, and the problem intensifies when rain began. After repulsing one attack, Cooper pulls his forces back to obtain new ammunition. In the meantime, Cooper begins to experience command problems, and he learns that Blunt is about to turn his left flank. The Confederate retreat begins, and although Cooper fights a rearguard action, many of those troops counterattack, fail, and flee. Any possibility of the Confederates taking Fort Gibson is gone. Following this battle, Union forces control Indian Territory, north of the Arkansas River. [More information here.]
Second Assault on Fort Wagner (Charleston, South Carolina). After the July 11 assault on Fort Wagner failed, Union Gen. Quincy Gillmore reinforced his beachhead on Morris Island. At dusk on July 18, Gillmore launches an attack spearheaded by the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, a black regiment. The unit's colonel, Robert Gould Shaw, is killed. Members of the brigade scale the parapet but after brutal hand-to-hand combat are driven out with heavy casualties. The Federals resort to siege operations to reduce the fort.
July 19, 1863
Buffington Island (Ohio and West Virginia). On July 13, Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan's raiders had crossed into Ohio at Harrison, pursued by several columns of Union cavalry under the overall direction of Gen. Edward H. Hobson. On July 19, Kautz's and Judah's brigades attack Morgan near Buffington Island. During the night, Morgan and about 400 men escape encirclement by following a narrow woods path. The rest of his force surrenders.
July 23, 1863
Battle of Manassas Gap (Wapping Heights) (Virginia). After recrossing the Potomac River at Williamsport during its retreat after the Battle of Gettysburg, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's army withdraws up the Shenandoah Valley. Gen. George B. Meade's Union army crosses the Potomac River east of the Blue Ridge and follows Lee into Virginia. On July 23, Meade orders the III Corps, under Gen. William. H. French to cut off the retreating Confederate columns at Front Royal by forcing passage through Manassas Gap. At first light, French begins slowly pushing Col. E. J. Walker's Confederate brigade (Gen. Richard Anderson's division) back into the gap. About 4:30 pm, a strong Union attack drives Walker's men until they are reinforced by Gen. Robert Rodes's division and artillery. By dusk, the poorly coordinated Union attacks are abandoned. During the night, Confederate forces withdraw into the Luray Valley. On July 24, the Union army occupies Front Royal, but Lee's army is safely beyond pursuit.
Battle of Big Mound (Dakota Territory, modern-day North Dakota). Union Gen. Henry Hastings Sibley led his troops from Fort Ridgely, Minnesota, into the Dakotas, pursuing the Santee Sioux, who had initiated an uprising in the Minnesota River Valley in August 1862. The Santee had joined forces with the Teton Sioux. Having marched all day on July 24, 1863, Sibley's scouts, around 1:00 pm, report that they have spotted a large Native American camp a few miles away. Sibley establishes a camp on a nearby salt lake and sets his men to entrenching it for protection. While in the process of making camp, numerous Native Americans appear, expressing friendship. A number of them approach the scouts gathered about 300-400 yards from the camp and begin talking with them. Surgeon Josiah S. Weiser, 1st Regiment Minnesota Mounted Rangers, joinsd the assembly, but soon afterwards a Sioux shoots and kills him. The scouts attempt to kill the attacker but he escapes. Native Americans who have hidden behind the surrounding ridges now emerge and attack. In detachments, the soldiers go out to meet the Native Americans. Sibley, with some men, approach the "Big Mound" on the opposite side of the ravine. He attempts to dislodge those Sioux who are on the upper part of the large ravine firing at the infantry and cavalry with impunity. The Union forces displace these and other well-placed Sioux in the surrounding ridges by accurate artillery fire and force them into the broken prairie where they flee in confusion. The mounted troops, with some of the infantry and artillery following, set out in pursuit. A running battle ensues for the rest of the day. Before dark, the soldiers break off the pursuit and returned to camp as previously ordered, some not arriving until the next morning. The Sioux forces are broken and dispirited.
Battle of Salineville (Ohio). After escaping encirclement at Buffington's Island with about 400 of his men, Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan [pictured] continues east and north, attempting to find a safe crossing over the Ohio River. With several columns of Union cavalry in hot pursuit, Morgan passes through Salineville, riding down the railroad toward Smith's Ford. Turning onto the New Lisbon Road, Morgan's raiders are finally cut off. Morgan surrenders. During this raid, Morgan and his men captured and paroled about 6,000 Union soldiers and militia, destroyed 34 bridges, disrupted the railroads at more than 60 places, and diverted tens of thousands of troops from other duties.
July 26, 1863
Battle of Dead Buffalo Lake (Dakota Territory; modern-day North Dakota). Following the Battle of Big Mound on July 24, 1863, Union Gen. Henry Hastings Sibley and his men move their camp about four miles and then rest till the next day. On the morning of the 26th they set ou,t and after marching about 14 miles, find the Sioux ready for battle. At first, the fighting is long range because the Native Americans refrain from closing with the soldiers. The Native Americans attempt to flank the left side of the camp and run off the mules. The Mounted Rangers and infantry, though, after heavy fighting, compel the Native Americans to abandon their intentions. Following this setback, the Sioux retreat, ending the battle. Sibley resumes his march after the Native Americans the next day. The Sioux are on the run.
July 28, 1863
Battle of Stony Lake (Dakota Territory; modern-day North Dakota). Following the Battle of Dead Buffalo Lake, Union Gen. Henry Hastings Sibley continues his march after the retreating Sioux until he reaches Stony Lake, where his animals' exhaustion compel him to encamp. On the 28th, the force has started out in pursuit again when Sibley discovers that a large number of Sioux are moving upon him. He orders the men to make defensive preparations, which many have already accomplished. In the face of enemy, Sibley now resumes his march. The Sioux search for weak points in the soldiers' position. Finding none, the Sioux ride off at great speed, preventing pursuit. The Sioux had hoped to halt Sibley's advance but are unable to do so. Sibley remarks in his report that Stony Lake was "the greatest conflict between our troops and the Indians, so far as the numbers were concerned."
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